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D&D Beyond
Don’t want to read the silly introduction? Want to skip to the games?
I remember it like it was the day before yesterday. A group of friends sat on the porch of a row home in Gilbert, Arizona. The sun rose lazily over the Superstition Mountains, and though it was summertime, the day was not yet scorching hot. None of the friends had ever played Dungeons & Dragons before, save for the nerdy guy from across the street who had gathered us together. He owned one book and one set of dice, but it was enough to get us started. That day, Fre Talis was born, a sneakthief and cutpurse in the classic and noble line of Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
That day changed my life forever.
Ever since that day, I have been in love with roleplaying games! It's a hobby and a lifestyle and running games, especially games for new players, is a dream job I never thought might one day happen. And yet here I am. And there you are. If you're still interested, read on!
I am Simon of the House Fiasco, first of my name, the jack of some (but really, not many) trades, the most jovial of game masters, regent of hooligans and rapscallions, lord of nothing in particular, scribbler of words, eater of Hawaiian pizza, protector of small fur-bearing animals, breaker of chairs, and speaker of dad jokes!
The name is just a nom de guerre, of course. (Isn't that a great phrase? Say it with me. Nom de guerre. You can feel the italics tickle your nasal passages, vibrating with arrogant titillation as the idiom instills a certain degree of superiority into the left frontal lobe of your cerebral cortex, can't you?)
My real name might be the unfortunate, bland, and pedestrian "Scott" or "Patrick" or "Brian." But you have to be realistic, nobody wants to be named Brian, except maybe Brian Blessed, who has really ruined the name for the rest of us with his history of sparring with the Dalai Lama, climbing Mt. Everest while handcuffed and blindfolded, and keeping a full grown grizzly bear hidden behind his massive beard. If you're going to be named Brian, you must be Brian Blessed. If you aren't Brian Blessed, what's the point?
I am not Brian Blessed, and the strange alien overlords that talk to me through a psychic eggplant insisted on a more exciting name for their Earthbound representative, so Simon Fiasco, the Jovial GM it is.
When not sitting in front of my computer creating inspiring campaign worlds (no doubt with my mouth hanging open like I just saw the ghost of someone almost (but not quite) interesting), I spend my time on a balcony overlooking the Arkansas River, playing Death Metal's Greatest Hits on my diamond-studded kazoo. I don't pretend to know the meaning of life, but I know the meaning of "sesquipidalian", and that makes me feel all extraordinarily exceptional on the inside.
If I am at my computer (and, let's face it, that's the majority of my time), mostly I'm either playing video games, devising dastardly villains, or doing something equally as silly, like pretending the Photoshop skills of someone with no true artistic talent really matter.
I'm a wild and crazy kind of guy, tossing dice like a nine year old on a roller coaster tosses cookies. (In other words, only when absolutely necessary!) I believe that role-play needs to be at the center of role-playing games, with combat and other aspects of the game taking a back seat to the actual story. That said, I'm not against combat, but you're still likely to see a two-to-one split, with about twice as much role-play and exploration as combat.
Provided you can keep your sword sheathed, that is.
For the most part, I prefer running games with a more narrative style. At the moment, I find the flexibility of Fantasy Flight Games' Genesys RPG scratches just about any itch. And I wouldn't be here if I wasn't a fan of Dungeons & Dragons. That said, I have experience with other systems, including 13th Age, Five Torches Deep, The Dresden Files RPG and the Genesys precursor, FFG's wonderful Star Wars RPG... among many others!
What You Can Expect from the Jovial GM's Games
Beneath the unyielding night sky, you stand before a towering glacier and recite an ancient rhyme, causing a crack to form in the great wall of ice. Beyond this yawning fissure, the Caves of Hunger await. And past this icy dungeon is a secret so old and terrifying that few dare speak of it. The mad wizards of the Arcane Brotherhood long to possess that which the god of winter's wrath has so coldly preserved--as do you! What fantastic secrets and treasures are entombed in the sunless heart of the glacier, and what will their discovery mean for the denizens of Icewind Dale? Can you save Ten-Towns from the Frostmaiden's everlasting night?
Interested? Fill out this form to get in touch!
Under raging storm clouds, the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich stands silhouetted against the ancient walls of Castle Ravenloft. Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind’s howling increases as he turns his gaze down toward the village of Barovia. Far below, yet not beyond his keen eyesight, a party of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd’s face forms the barest hint of a smile as his dark plan unfolds. He knew they were coming, and he knows why they came — all according to his plan. A lightning flash rips through the darkness, but Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind fills the midnight air. The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. And you are invited.
Interested? Fill out this form to get in touch!
Historians measure Ptolus’s age in centuries, but every resident knows that the fortress atop the impossibly tall Spire is far more ancient still. Recently, explorers also discovered extensive catacombs beneath the city’s streets. When word spread of the treasures and magic to be discovered in this labyrinthine undercity, adventurers flocked to Ptolus. The enterprising folk of the city quickly adapted to this influx, adding a boom-town atmosphere to the age-worn streets.
But the dungeons aren't Ptolus's only secret. First and foremost is that which hangs above every head in the city. The ancient fortress of Jabel Shammar was not built atop a rocky spire—in fact, the fortress came first. The vaunted spire resulted from the very earth attempting to thrust the evil within that dread place as far from it as possible.
Care to come to Ptolus, City by the Spire? Dare to try your luck in the catacombs below the streets? You might find great treasure, but you will almost certainly encounter deadly danger as well. Perhaps you’d rather pursue intrigue and adventure in the city’s streets, alleyways, pavilions and temples—for there’s plenty to be experienced there. No matter what you choose, you’ll likely find something far more intricate and complex than you ever expected.
And should you survive it all, will you hone your skills and find power and knowledge that might allow you to explore the infamous Jabel Shammar at the top of the Spire itself? Such an undertaking would certainly be the most epic of all—and it seems as if the road of any truly great hero ultimately points in that direction.
Interested? Fill out this form to get in touch!
Candlekeep attracts scholars like a flame attracts moths. Historians, sages, and others who crave knowledge flock to this library fortress to peruse its vast collection of books, scribbled into which are the answers to the mysteries that bedevil them. Many of these books contain their own mysteries—each one a doorway to adventure. Dare you cross that threshold?
Interested? Fill out this form to get in touch!
Just a little update...
Each chronicle (or campaign) is designed for four to six players, so they can launch as soon as the minimum is reached. Interested in exploring the frozen north? Itching to check out the Domains of Dread? Feel free to contact me here or fill out the forms linked with each ad. And if you have any questions, message me here or post your question right to this thread!
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden starts tonight at 7PM Central. It's Session Zero, which is free, and we have two seats still open.